인공지능 시대, 질문하는 인간의 귀환: 2026 서울국제도서전이 던지는 화두 > K-wave Trends

The core keyword of this year's book fair is undoubtedly 'Homo Duduri' (The Human Declaration). The term 'Duduri' is borrowed from an old Korean word for blacksmiths who were constantly tapping and creating things. It symbolizes an active human archetype that does not conform to the efficient and standardized answers provided by AI, but instead poses questions and expands the horizons of thought. Notably, the theme statement of the book fair itself was co-authored by human novelist Kim Yeon-su and the large-scale AI models 'Claude Sonnet 4.6' and 'Gemini 3.' This demonstrates the book fair's philosophy: not to reject technology, but to use it as a tool, while keeping human agency—the ability to ask questions—at the center.

The participation of France, selected as the Guest of Honor to mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France, has elevated the stature of this year's event. Under the slogan 'Reading France,' 12 representative French authors, including Bernard Werber and Pascal Bruckner, will visit Korea to engage in deep exchanges with Korean readers. Beyond simple literary exchange, it is highly encouraging that international seminars are prepared for Korean and French experts to discuss humanities through gastronomy, as well as ethics and copyright in the AI era. This is expected to be a productive forum for comparing the policy challenges faced by the French publishing industry with the situation in Korea, and seeking future directions for reading policies together.

The impressive lineup of domestic and international speakers proves that this book fair is a comprehensive knowledge festival that goes beyond a simple book exhibition. Icons from various fields, such as neuroscientist Jang Dong-sun, musician Sunwoo Jung-a, actor Kim Shin-rock, and webtoon artist Lee Jong-beom, will serve as panelists to share multifaceted perspectives on 'humans living in the AI era.' Additionally, Korean-American authors like LA Times Book Prize winner Park Ji-sun and Kwon Oh-kyung will discuss their new works with domestic readers, and international book talks featuring authors like Taiwan's Chen Si-hong are also scheduled. 'Meetings with Authors,' led by intellectuals of the era such as Professor Choi Jae-chun and Venerable Jeong Kwan, will provide readers with a valuable opportunity to gain fresh inspiration through voices beyond the books.

Programs focusing on the essence of the book fair—the 'books' themselves—also stand out. The 'What a Shame, This Book' corner, introduced for the first time this year, helps create a healthy book ecosystem by rediscovering hidden masterpieces that were excellent in quality but did not receive enough market attention. Furthermore, through the 'Summer, First Book' project, 10 new titles available only during the book fair will be unveiled, and a special limited-edition book, 'Homo Duduri: The Human Declaration,' will be published. Additionally, the selection of works by Busan's independent publisher 'Text Press' as 'The Most Beautiful Books in Korea' will serve as an important milestone in expanding the Seoul-centric publishing discourse to the regions and elevating books as an artistic medium.

Learning from the confusion caused by last year's ticket reservation rush and early sell-outs, this year, every effort is being made to refine the reservation system and ensure efficient operation. Starting with early-bird ticket sales on June 8th, general tickets and on-site purchases will be processed sequentially to minimize inconvenience for readers. In 'Book Village,' the mecca of independent publishing, over 110 independent publishers will participate to showcase unique publications from across Asia, and the 'Kim Koo Special Exhibition,' hosted by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, adds historical significance and depth to the fair. This diverse composition encourages readers to form cultural solidarity and enjoy new intellectual experiences through the festival, going beyond simple book consumption.